Nov - MCA-I AZ HOME

November 2003
18th Annual Holiday
Celebration and Awards
Ceremony
Who:
Members and non-members
(video professionals and video students)
When:
Sunday, December 7, 2003, 6 p.m.
Nov 25 Meeting
Animation, CG and Effects in Production
(See page 3 for more details.)
Where: Farelli’s Cinema Supper Club
14202 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Cost:
$32.50 per person
(deadline to purchase tickets is Dec 1)
Come network and celebrate the achievements of your
fellow MCA-I professionals as we kickoff the holiday
season. This year, Farrelli's Cinema Supper Club will be
our venue - an absolutely awesome and spectacular
facility. This is a great opportunity to bring friends, family, and clients as well as see what creative productions
were created over the past year.
Hwy 10
1
Thunderbird Rd.
Farelli’s
Supper Club
Cactus Rd.
in this issue
p4
PSA Campaign Wrap-Up
p5
Thank You from PSA Client
p7
Road Crew Video Update
p7
Tech Tip
p8
Southwest Expo Booth
p10
Member Profile - Mike McFadden
p11
Members Rate October Meeting
Scottsdale Rd.
Shea Blvd.
Tickets will be available at our November meeting
or contact Video Festival Director Skip Neeley at
480.350.8474.
(Don’t delay. Deadline for purchasing tickets is Dec 1.)
From the President
November 2003
by Steve Pender
Hip hip hooray! The newsletter is back! I'm very happy that our
chapter is able to once again offer this printed newsletter to our
members. I extend my thanks to Karen Lodoen for stepping into
the editing and layout roles. Thanks also to former editor Amy
McSheffrey, former layout and design person Chris Wolfe and
Communications Director David Haneke for helping Karen get
her inaugural issue into print and into your hands.
In addition to our members, the newsletter is also being sent to
an extended list of people we feel should know about MCA-I
Arizona Chapter 44. If you're one of these people, please take a
few moments to peruse the newsletter. Over the coming few
months, it will acquaint you with the goings-on at our chapter
and give you a glimpse into an association of pros dedicated to
excellence in video, film, multimedia and Web creation - pros
you should consider hiring for your next productions.
Arizona Chapter #44
P.O. Box 40221 • Phoenix, AZ 85067
www.mcai-az.org
Steve Pender, President & Past President
Pender Productions • 520.743.4090 • fax 520.743.0963
PO Box 86376 Tucson AZ 85754-6376
steve@penderproductions.com
Duncan Harvey, Vice President
602.765.7977
5318 E. Kathleen Rd. • Scottsdale, AZ 85254 • duncanharvey@cox.net
Mike McFadden, Treasurer
Desert Mike • 480.330.4462
PO Box 27767 Tempe AZ 85285-7767 • mike@desertmike.com
David Haneke, Communications Director
Opening Moments Video • 602.640.1444 • fax 602.640.1445
5151 N. 16th St. #D136 • Phoenix, AZ 85016 •
david@openingmoments.com
Lou Hunt, Membership Director
Word of Mouth Productions • 480.592.0059 • fax 480.763.5635
11211 S. Talavi Lane • Phoenix, AZ 85044 • lou@ladylou.com
Lately we've made great strides in promoting our chapter and
membership. We sponsored an MCA-I booth at the Southwest
Communications Expo in Phoenix on October 14, have a new
online store featuring branded Chapter 44 merchandise (you
can reach the store from our Web site home page at www.mcaiaz.org) as well as a new banner and business cards. In 2004
our promotional video and "road crew" presentations will further
raise our profile.
Skip Neeley, Video Festival Director, Communicator Photographer
City of Tempe • 480.350.8474 • fax 480.350.8886
31 E. 5th St. • Tempe, AZ 85281 • skip_neeley@tempe.gov
I invite you to join us in promoting our chapter and our industry. I
guarantee you'll have fun and get to know a lot of great people you may even strike up some profitable business relationships.
As you know, we're all volunteers and we need all the help we
can get with current programs and with developing the chapter
leaders of tomorrow. Please help out - you'll find volunteering to
be a win-win situation.
Chris Murray, Advertising Manager
American Audio Visual Center • 480-368-4972 • fax 480-596-0942
7434 East Monte Cristo • Scottsdale AZ • 85260
chris.murray@americanav.com
I look forward to seeing you at the November 25 meeting. And
be sure to buy your tickets for our Video Awards Festival/Holiday
Banquet on December 7 (you can get them from festival director
Skip Neeley). This year's event promises to be the best ever!
You'll have a great time mixing and mingling and honoring the
fantastic work created by your colleagues this past year.
That's it for now. See you soon!
Steve
Leslee Unser, Webmaster
602.680.8336
PO Box 40356 • Phoenix AZ 85064-0356 • LesleeU@yahoo.com
Karen Lodoen, The Communicator Editor & Designer
Two Moon Productions • 623.743.2968 • KLodoen@cox.net
Advertising and Editorial Policy
Discounts for pre-payment of multiple placements, as well as on multiple
ads (more than one ad in an issue) are available. Free notices to non-vendor members selling used equipment or seeking employment. Notices for
non-members selling used equipment are $10. Notices for non-members
seeking employment are $2.
All materials must be received by the dates listed below. Other MCA
Chapters may reprint articles found in The Communicator, as long as attribution is given to The Communicator. All other interested parties must
obtain reprint permission in writing.
Copy and Ad Deadlines for The Communicator
Issue
Articles/Ads due by
January
December 28
February
January 28
March
February 28
The Communicator, copyright 2003, Arizona Chapter #44,
Media Communications Association-International.
Page 2 -- November 2003
Nov 26 Meeting - Studio 522
5125 N. 16th Street, Phoenix • 6:00 - 9:00pm
Halloween has come and gone and the women (in some cases men) are out stalking the turkey for Thanksgiving. This time of year
must also mean Hollywood will be rolling out some of their big guns for the holiday season.
So, coming up shortly at your favorite cinema is the much anticipated release of "Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World,"
the latest Russell Crowe vehicle. There are CG-computer generated sequences in this film that have not been achieved before. Visit
the following website to see a list of titles the CG animation folks are working on:
http://www.cinefex.com/upcoming/listings/upcominglist.html
This brings me to our announce our November meeting. This past spring we conducted a membership survey and scoring very high on the list was a meeting
about Animation! Thus, our hosts for November will be the highly talented animators from "Studio522" and in case you did not know, Studio522 is one of our chapter sponsors. Mike Sullivan and the 522 crew will be presenting an overview of
the use of animation, CG, and effects in production. They will cover a range of
topics including:
1. Pre-production
5. Budgets & terms
2. Collaborative issues
6. Feedback sessions
3. Design Criteria
7. Animation techniques
4. Problem solving
8. Delivery options
Be ther
e and W
in!
$40
So come on down as this meeting will definitely shed some light into the mysterious workings of CG-Animation. Bring along a friend and the questions you’ve
always wanted to ask. One from me is, how do you get those lifelike movements on Dinosaurs? We'll also devote plenty of time to
answering your questions and our dinner will be seasonal.
Duncan Harvey
Silver Sponsor
PS: A short game of holiday inspired TV trivia will be played.
T-Shirts and possible other goodies will be given away!
FREE Information
New Chapter 44
Online Store
The New Chapter 44 Online
Store is open for business!
Look smart and support the
chapter with your purchase of quality branded
Chapter 44 merchandise.
Link to the store from the chapter home page at
www.mcai-az.org.
– What is High Definition?
– How does it fit into
your business?
– Who has it in Arizona?
– What does it cost?
– Does it replace film?
– Recent projects
Rentals
Production
Information
480-345-2187
This advertiser is a member of MCA-I Chapter #44
November 2003 -- Page 3
MCA-I AZ 2003 PSA Campaign … Everyone's a Winner!
By Scott Pfister, 2003 PSA Committee Chairman
Many thanks go out to all those who volunteered time, talent
and services to the 2003 PSA Campaign. Four spots were
completed for ALS Association, Information & Referral
Services, Gabriel's Angels and Esperanca.
Brian Kohatsu led the team producing multiple versions of
the ALS spot, including one with Curt and Shonda Schilling,
of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Heidi Capriotti (the producer formerly known as
Szymkowski) produced the Information & Referral
Services, an agency out of Tucson.
Andrea produced the spot for Gabriel's Angels, a unique
agency that lets at-risk children play with dogs.
Finally, Scott Pfister produced a spot for Esperanca, the
medical "lifeboat" sailing around the world.
This year, the PSA's have been distributed to more outlets
than ever and should begin to appear on stations and cable
outlets throughout the state.
The Information & Referral Services PSA crew poses after the Tucson shoot. L to R: Ron Anderson,
Heidi Capriotti, client Diane Haeger, Steve Pender, Steve Wargo, Warner Weber.
The Campaign Committee of Karen Lodoen, Heidi
Capriotti, Duncan Harvey and Scott Pfister would like
to thank everyone involved with this important aspect
of our chapter. The logistics involved with getting
everyone's paths to cross at the same time, and still
get your day-job done, require skills many producers
often delegate.
The campaign allows MCA-I members to work with
crews they may not normally utilize, equipment they
may not often use, and on productions they may not
normally be involved with. The networks and friendships that develop out of these productions are often
as solid as the spots themselves.
The greatest aspect, however, are the smiles and joy
you see when the agencies see the final product.
The reaction usually begins with skepticism when
Steve Wargo at work during the Information & Referral Services PSA shoot in Tucson.
you approach them about the production, followed by
enthusiasm, culminating in joy and appreciation for the wonderful public relations piece they just received. Additionally, the relationship developed between the producer and the agency usually leads to some wonderful things, as well.
Everyone wins with the MCA-I PSA Campaign. A full listing of volunteers and crews will be listed with the results of the Video
Festival. Build your network… Make someone happy… Be a winner.
Plan now to get involved in a PSA Project for next year! It’s the experience of a lifetime!
Page 4 -- November 2003
Thanks from a PSA Project Client
Here's the text of a letter recently sent to Steve Pender and Heidi Capriotti from a grateful PSA Project client, Information &
Referral Services of Tucson. Be sure to come to the Awards Ceremony where you’ll get a chance to view each PSA.
Dear
Steve
and H
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On be
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November 2003 -- Page 5
Silver Sponsor
Page 6 -- November 2003
This advertiser is a member of MCA-I Chapter #44
MCA-I Road Crew Video
Update
Our production is still in the works! The original executive producer, Julie Aylesworth, has taken a new job
and moved to Nevada. The good news is that Lou Hunt
has agreed to step into the executive producer role.
There has been some new videotaping -- you may have
noticed cameramen at a few meetings last year and this
year -- and many members have supplied behind-thescenes production footage. Our script also calls for a
few testimonial interviews from members, sponsors,
clients, etc., which we will be shooting this month.
Once this is accomplished, we'll get into post. Stay
tuned for the next update!
(For new members: In an effort to market our industry
to civic organizations, other professional groups and
schools, our MCA-I chapter has decided to develop a
presentation that explains what we do and the services
we offer the community. This image video is being produced as one part of the MCA-I Road Crew presentation.)
This advertiser is a member of MCA-I Chapter #44
Tech Tip
by Ed Vogt
From EAR Professional Audio/Video's "How To Buy A Used
Workstation"
Just buying a used Audio or Video editing workstation by model
number alone does not tell you enough to know what you're getting until the equipment is on your door step. Example: not all
"Avid Media Composers" are even close to being equal. Here's a
quick list of information a good seller should provide for you to make sure you avoid any surprises:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Serial numbers and/or system ID number
Boardset details (part# and revisions if possible)
Software Versions (includes dongles, license numbers an CD media for reloading?)
Operating system revision (is it qualified for use with the software?)
CPU (make, model, speed, internal memory & storage)
Here's a big one - ask to confirm ownership of the software add-ons (tons of people offer software extras that
are "cracked" or illegitimate - aside from the ethical questions, they can never be upgraded and frequently contain viruses or other problems).
Equipped with this information - contact the manufacturer or a service center to help you confirm the system age and
what it takes to make the system current. You may not be interested in upgrading the system, however if it needs servicing you might not have the option of finding older parts and software. Unless you do your homework - you won't know
for sure if it's a great price or a big mistake.
A note about the author: Ed Vogt is President and cofounder of EAR Professional Audio/Video in Phoenix, Arizona. Established in 1977, EAR has
provided professional audio and video products including workstations to tens of thousands of professional users worldwide.
November 2003 -- Page 7
MCA-I AZ Increases Promotion Expo-nentially!
October 14, 2003, Phoenix Civic Plaza
The Southwest Communications
Expo was held on October 14 at
the Phoenix Civic Plaza Convention
Center - and Chapter 44 was there!
Arizona MCA-I members spent the
day meeting and greeting trade
show attendees and talking up
Chapter 44 and MCA-I.
Thanks go to Bonnie Leigh Crystall
of C/S Communications, Inc. (the
expo's PR firm) for providing
Chapter 44 with the free booth.
Kudos also go to the
following MCA-I
Arizona members who
pitched in on short
notice to create promotional materials,
provide equipment
and staff the booth:
• Janet Ault
• David Haneke
• Karen Lodoen
• Mike McFadden
• Chris Murray
• Skip Neeley
• Steve Pender
• Scott Pfister
• Stevan Pope
• Bob Rue
• Leslee Unser
Steve Pender and Bob Rue field questions from a potential member.
A booth visitor reads MCA-I info as Karen Lodoen and Mike McFadden look on.
Bring a guest to the
next meeting and they
get in for free!
Page 8 -- November 2003
Karen Lodoen and Mark Silverstein mingle with expo attendees.
WRITE ON!
THE NAME: STEVE PENDER
THE GAME: VIDEO & MULTIMEDIA
SCRIPTS THAT –
• MARKET
• TRAIN
• INFORM
• INSPIRE
520.743.4090
steve@penderproductions.com
www.penderproductions.com
This advertiser is a member of MCA-I Chapter #44
This advertiser is a member of MCA-I Chapter #44
Bronze Sponsor
Don’t Miss these
Upcoming Meetings!
Audio. Video. Data. Equipment.
January 27
February 24
March 30
April 27
May 25
Tape Stock • Equipment • Batteries
• Back-up Tapes • Printer Cartridges
• CDRS & CD Duplicators
• DVD Drives & Authoring Software
•
480-968-2653
fax 480-968-2659
819 W. 22nd St. • #108 Tempe, AZ 85282
BASF • Fuji • JVC • Maxell • Quantegy • Panasonic • Sony
Verbatim • Exabyte • Iomega • Pioneer • Mackie Bogen • 3M
Kodak • Canon • Shure • Sennheiser
Eiki • Elmo • Rimage • Telex • Microboards
. . . And much more
This advertiser is a member of MCA-I Chapter #44
November 2003 -- Page 9
Member Profile
Having spent over 30 years developing computer software and
systems, I decided about three years ago to re-enter the media
marketplace by getting into voiceovers. I had some experience
in the eighties on the east coast, having been involved in the
radio world for a while, hosting two shows and doing some
voice-over work.
When I moved back to Phoenix in 1987, I discovered an
extremely tough marketplace and faded back into computer
systems development. In 2000, having gotten thoroughly fed up
with the corporate high-tech world, I decided to re-enter the
voiceover marketplace and developed a demo CD.
Mike McFadden
By the way, I just turned 60 in June! If Colonel Sanders can do
it with KFC, there's no reason why I can't do it with media arts!
Mike McFadden is based in Tempe, AZ, and can be reached at
480-330-4462 mike@DesertMike.com.
Reprinted from MCA-I Member to Member (M2M) 09/03.
Industry Humor . . .
The advent of digital audio made the segue into audio postproduction and audio development for presentations and the
Internet a fairly natural course of events for me, so I began
developing my own digital audio workstation and studying more
about the processes of creating and managing digital audio.
My world became suddenly much more interesting when I
joined MCA-I a few years ago and I began to discover a vast
playground of media development, including video and film.
Well, to make a long story short, I have now decided to return
to college and pursue a degree in media arts! There are several
reasons for this decision. First, I'd like to expand the services I
offer my clients, and second, I want to legitimize some of the
experience I've had over the years.
James, AVID Editor
AVID Tennis Player
THIS SPACE AVAILABLE
Advertise your Company or Services Here!
Sizes include: Business Card
1/4 page
Full page
1/2 page
Contact Chris Murray for pricing and availability.
480.368.4972
chris.murray@americanav.com
Page 10 -- November 2003
Members Rate October Meeting
Philip Hodgetts of Intelligent Assistant and Bob Ginger of
Arcatron spoke to a packed house, giving us a fascinating
glimpse into the technological evolution of our industry. They
described how changes in technology have changed the nature
of our business and predicted what we'll need to do in the future
to adapt and prosper. Thanks to: Mark Temen and Audio Video
Resources for hosting our meeting; V.P. Duncan Harvey for coordinating the event, Bob Rue for picking up the grub; Bruce Liddil
for the Member Moment; and Scott Pfister for an entertaining Tip
of the Niter!
So how did we rate?
Out of 41 members and guests (23 members, 18 guests) 22
turned in evaluations. Number grades range from 1 (low) to 3
(average) to 5 (excellent):
Scores:
Relevancy of program topic: 6x4 + 16x5 = 104 (Avg. = 4.7)
Speaker presentation: 2x3 + 6x4 + 14x5 = 100 (Avg. = 4.5)
Food: 1x1 + 8x3 + 4x4 + 8x5 = 81 (Avg. = 3.9)
Meeting location: 1x1 +4x4 + 17x5 = 102 (Avg. = 4.6)
Overall score: 4.4
If not a member, how did you hear about the meeting?
Member: 6
Chapter Web site: 1
Gold Sponsor
Comments:
• Really liked the program. I'm a long-time member who
hasn't been here in a while and I liked what I saw!
• Good show…good info.
• Really tired of Mexican food.
• Very interesting - great getting Philip over here.
• Perhaps a mic and speaker might have been provided to the
guest speakers so we could all hear what they had to say!
• Tremendous speakers - 2 speakers were perfect. Three
speakers would have been too many.
• Need more focus on where the industry's technology will end
up in the long run, 10-15 years from now. More focus on
audio quality. For the most part, the whole discussion went
very well.
• Very helpful to hear the trends within the production world,
particularly from 2 guys who are very in touch with the
market.
• Really found this interesting.
• Best meeting I've attended. Relevant.
• Interesting learning experience. Good hardware information.
• I like the Q&A format.
• Great presentation. Very timely.
Suggestions for future meetings:
• How to shoot underwater.
• Bring in equipment. Show us examples visually and possibly
more hands on.
• Video editing for animation.
This advertiser is a member of MCA-I Chapter #44
November 2003 - Page 11
Silver Sponsor
Arizona Chapter #44
WWW.MCAI-AZ.ORG
Chapter Hotline 602-252-3014
P.O. Box 40221 Phoenix, AZ 85067